[ACLU-NM] Your Calls Are Working! Bipartisan Group Stands Up for Patriot Reform

[Kimberly Lavender]

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<http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=P0_hqBX0ZgIuFlvwVT_riA..>  	
Your Calls Are Working!  Bipartisan Group Stands Up for Patriot Reform

Dear Friends, 

The effort to renew the Patriot Act is not going according to the White
House script. Two weeks ago the Administration attempted to force
through a reauthorization bill that would make most of the provisions of
the Patriot Act permanent and make other provisions even worse.

We were told that this bill was a done deal and a vote was going to take
place at any moment.  Fortunately the White House did not anticipate the
resolve of Americans, especially activists like you, who refuse to
sacrifice our most cherished civil liberties.

Keep the pressure on Congress by calling today.  Go to
http://action.aclu.org/call
<http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=HvoAJKue4a3RaIuBnthJaQ..> 

Thanks to your phone calls, a bipartisan group of Senators has publicly
rebuked the Bush Administration and blocked the vote.  The "civil
liberties six" -- John Sununu (R-NH), Larry Craig (R-ID), Lisa Murkowsky
(R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Ken Salazar (D-CO)
-- are demanding that real reforms be a part of any Patriot Act
reauthorization bill.  These Senators and other supporters of freedom in
Congress must be commended for defending our civil liberties in the face
of insurmountable pressure.

It should be noted that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), who as chairman of
the Senate Judiciary Committee oversaw Patriot Act reauthorization in
the Senate, also appeared at the press conference where the civil
liberties six made their stand.  Unfortunately that same day Senator
Specter reversed himself and said he will sign onto the conference
report.  At this point Senator Specter remains a pivotal swing vote and
calls to his office are urgently needed. 

With the reauthorization vote now on hold, the Bush Administration is
undertaking fierce campaign to get the bill that it wants and is
pressuring the Senators to drop their opposition.

It is critical that you continue to call your Members of Congress and
tell them to stand fast against any Patriot Act reauthorization bill
that lacks real reforms to protect our civil liberties. Call now!
<http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=wTf4U7VDFOPnySbQLprWYg..>  

Backers of the current proposals are touting the "major" changes it
makes to the Patriot Act, but in reality these changes are just window
dressing hiding the absence of any real reforms in the bill.

They are trying to twist discussion about real Patriot Act reform into a
phony debate about the length of "sunset" (or expiration) clauses.

But the issue here isn't whether the Patriot Act's most sweeping powers
are extended for four years or seven years. The real issue here is
whether Congress is going to give the Bush Administration a blank check
to investigate and keep records about ordinary Americans who have no
connection to terrorism. 

After taking action, I encourage you to join the ACLU
<http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=-AT4bUiowjFkBK_8uqVqaQ..>  and become
one of the over 500,000 "card-carrying" members who make everything we
do possible.

Then, read more about recent events and the coming "spin" debate on our
Patriot Act Blog
<http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=b7qDlnuyA40qcS6fz9LSIg..> .

Sincerely,
 <http://action.aclu.org/images/content/pagebuilder/12631.gif> 
Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
American Civil Liberties Union

December 2, 2005


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The ACLU and its members are deeply engaged in protecting our
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